Columbus, OH (August 3, 2018)—After a highly successful beta phase, which raised over $100,000 from donors across the region, The Columbus Foundation today officially released Better Together, the first crowdfunding platform built specifically to support nonprofit organizations in central Ohio.

The online platform provides an opportunity for Columbus nonprofits to partner with the Foundation to raise visibility into their time-sensitive needs, rally their supporters, and find new donors.

“Better Together is a nationally groundbreaking crowdfunding platform dedicated to nonprofit needs in our region. Ease of participation and the use of our community knowledge to curate these projects elevates the value of this product by providing a uniquely informed way for donors to connect to the causes they support,” said Douglas F. Kridler, President and CEO of the Foundation. “We are proud to have invested in this new resource as a capacity-building tool for our nonprofit partners. It will level the playing field in giving equal visibility to organizations large and small.”

To celebrate the launch, the Foundation is covering all credit card fees for gifts given toward Better Together projects during 2018, allowing donors’ dollars to go further and nonprofits to keep all of the donations they receive. All Better Together projects are vetted and overseen by Foundation staff, who ensure the funds reach their intended organizations.

“Accountability and transparency are paramount in establishing trusting relationships between donors and organizations,” said Kridler. “By giving through Better Together, donors can feel confident their charitable dollars are being applied in the most effective way possible.”

The Columbus Foundation serves more than 2,500 individuals, families, and businesses that have created unique funds and planned gifts to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Nearly 75 years strong, The Columbus Foundation is Your Trusted Philanthropic Advisor® and the eighth largest community foundation in the United States. The Foundation’s Giving Store is a one-stop shop for easy and effective philanthropy. Learn more at columbusfoundation.org.